The Case against Paul
1 Five days later the High Priest Ananias went to Caesarea with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. They appeared before Governor Felix and made their charges against Paul. 2 Then Paul was called in, and Tertullus began to make his accusation, as follows:
“Your Excellency! Your wise leadership has brought us a long period of peace, and many necessary reforms are being made for the good of our country. 3 We welcome this everywhere and at all times, and we are deeply grateful to you. 4 I do not want to take up too much of your time, however, so I beg you to be kind and listen to our brief account. 5 We found this man to be a dangerous nuisance; he starts riots among Jews all over the world and is a leader of the party of the Nazarenes. 6 He also tried to defile the Temple, and we arrested him. 8 If you question this man, you yourself will be able to learn from him all the things that we are accusing him of.” 9 The Jews joined in the accusation and said that all this was true.
Paul's Defense before Felix
10 The governor then motioned to Paul to speak, and Paul said,
“I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, and so I am happy to defend myself before you. 11 As you can find out for yourself, it was no more than twelve days ago that I went to Jerusalem to worship. 12 The Jews did not find me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor did they find me stirring up the people, either in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 Nor can they give you proof of the accusations they now bring against me. 14 I do admit this to you: I worship the God of our ancestors by following that Way which they say is false. But I also believe in everything written in the Law of Moses and the books of the prophets. 15 I have the same hope in God that these themselves have, namely, that all people, both the good and the bad, will rise from death. 16 And so I do my best always to have a clear conscience before God and people.
17 “After being away from Jerusalem for several years, I went there to take some money to my own people and to offer sacrifices. 18 It was while I was doing this that they found me in the Temple after I had completed the ceremony of purification. There was no crowd with me and no disorder. 19 But some Jews from the province of Asia were there; they themselves ought to come before you and make their accusations if they have anything against me. 20 Or let these who are here tell what crime they found me guilty of when I stood before the Council— 21 except for the one thing I called out when I stood before them: ‘I am being tried by you today for believing that the dead will rise to life.’”
22 Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, brought the hearing to a close. “When the commander Lysias arrives,” he told them, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the officer in charge of Paul to keep him under guard, but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to provide for his needs.
Paul before Felix and Drusilla
24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he talked about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 But as Paul went on discussing about goodness, self-control, and the coming Day of Judgment, Felix was afraid and said, “You may leave now. I will call you again when I get the chance.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would give him some money; and for this reason he would call for him often and talk with him.
27 After two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix as governor. Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jews so he left Paul in prison.
Paulus ma kumininwa i Ovajuda
1 Kombunda yomayuva yetano Omupristeri Otjiuru Ananias wa ya kOsesarea puna ovanene tjiva nomutjiwe womatwako wena Tertulus. Owo ve keriraisa ku Feliks nave ka yandja omarondororero wawo nga tjamene na Paulus. 2 Okuzambo Paulus a isanewa a hite, nu Tertulus a utu okukuminina Paulus a tja:
“Mutengwa omutjuṋikwa tjinene! Omananeno woye wounongo ye tu etera ohange oruveze orure, nomarundurukiro omananḓengu ye tjitirwa ombwiro yehi retu. 3 Eṱe oviṋa mbi matu vi yakura akuhe na moruveze aruhe atu nenyando tjinene. 4 Ami hi nokuvanga okukukendisa orure tjinene, nopu me riyarikaṋene kove kutja u zuvire omaserekarerero wetu nomutima omupore. 5 Omurumendu ngwi twe mu muna kutja omunaumba tjinene; eye u uta omazunganeno mokati kOvajuda mouye auhe, neye omunane wotjira tjoposyo tjOvanasareni. 6 Nu tja vanga okuyamburura ondjuwo ya Muhona, eṱe arire tji twe mu kambura. 8b Nove omuini tji wa pura omurumendu ngwi, mo yenene okuzuva mu ye imbi avihe eṱe pu matu mu pere ondjo.” 9 Ovajuda va ya kumwe momakuminino nga, narire tji va tja oviṋa avihe mbi ouatjiri.
Paulus me riyeura komurungu wa Feliks
10 Okuzambo ongooneya ya ṋanga Paulus kutja a hungire, neye arire tja tja:
“Ami me tjiwa kutja oove omupangure wotjiwaṋa hi oure wozombura ozengi, nami otji mbi nenyando okuriyeura omuini komurungu woye. 11 Otja tji mo rimwine omuini pa kapita omayuva uri omurongo na yevari okuza indu tji mba ya kOjerusalem okukakumba. 12 Ovajuda kave ndji vazere ame patasana nomundu mondjuwo ya Muhona, nambi hi nokuhohiza ovandu mozosinagoge na ngamwa akuhe motjihuro. 13 Owo wina kamaave yenene okuraisa omakuminino ngu mave ndji pere po ondjo. 14 Nu ami me hongonona komurungu woye kutja mbi rikotamena ku Ndjambi wootate mukururume nokutwara Ondjira ndji owo ndji ve tja oyo i ri posyo. Nungwari ami wina mbi kambura moviṋa avihe mbya tjangwa mOmatwako wa Moses na momambo wovaprofete. 15 Ami mbi nomaundjiro tjingewo nga mu Ndjambi owo oveni ngu ve na wo wokutja ovandu avehe ovawa novavi mave penduka movakoke. 16 Nami otji mbi kondja aruhe pu mba yenena okukara nomeritjiviro womorukoro omakohoke komurungu wa Ndjambi novandu.
17 “Tji mba zire mo mOjerusalem oure wozombura ozengi, mba ya ngo okutwarera otjiwaṋa tjetu oveni ovimariva ouṱiṱi nokukapunguha ozombunguhiro. 18 Nu ngunda ame punguha ozombunguhiro nao owo otji ve ndji vaza mondjuwo ya Muhona tji mba za nokutjita omerikohororero. Kapa ri ovandu puna ami, nu kapa ri ezunganeno. 19 Nungwari pa ri Ovajuda tjiva mba zire korukondwa rwa Asie; owo va sokuya kove nu ave raisa omakuminino wawo tjinangara ve notjiṋa na ami. 20 Novarumendu mba ngave serekarere ouhasemba mbu mba tjita pu mave ndji pere po ondjo indu tji mba kuramene komurungu wOtjira tjOvajuda, 21 posi yainga omambo ngu mba ravaerere tji mba ri komurungu wawo e tja: ‘Ami me pangurwa i eṋe ndinondi motjimbe tjokutja mbi kambura mombendukiro yovakoke.’ ”
22 Okuzambo Feliks ngwaa tjiwa indji Ondjira youkriste nawa arire tja yandisa omahungiriro na tja: “Lisias, omuhongore wovita tje ya, otji me tye otjiposa tjoye.” 23 Eye wa rakizire komunane wovita ngwaa ṱakamisa Paulus kutja a kare mondjeverero, nungwari wina we mu raera kutja e mu pe ouyara woharive nokutja a yandjere omapanga we okumupa imbi mbi ma hepa.
Paulus komurungu wa Feliks na Drusila
24 Kombunda yomayuva tjiva Feliks we ere puna omukazendu we Omujuda Drusila. Feliks wa isanisa Paulus na puratene ku ye ngunda ama hungire ongamburiro mu Kristus Jesus. 25 Nungwari Paulus tja hungirire komurungu imbwi ousemba nomeritjaerero womundu nomeero wEyuva rOmbanguriro, Feliks arire tja tira na tja: “Nambano yaruka uri. Tji mba munu oruveze oruwa me ku isana rukwao.” 26 Moruveze tjingero ndo Feliks wa ri ama undju kutja Paulus me mu pe ovimariva vyombopero; komuhingo mbwi eye potuingi otjiye mu isana nokuhungira na ye.
27 Nozombura mbari tji za kapita Porsius Festus wa pingena Feliks otja ongooneya, nu Feliks tjinga a vanga okuritjatisa kOvajuda wa kareka Paulus motjovakamburwa.
